Wales officer drove on drugs, police say

An auxiliary police officer in Wales was arrested early yesterday on charges of driving under the influence of drugs, carrying a gun while intoxicated and using a badge without authority.

Officer Matthew J. McGoldrick, 23, of Paxton was released on personal recognizance at his arraignment in Western Worcester District Court on seven charges yesterday.

He was arrested just after 12:30 a.m. yesterday when state Trooper Sergio D. Figueiredo noticed a Mustang headed north on Route 122 in Paxton and crossing the center line, police said.

The driver, Officer McGoldrick, was unable to find the registration and, after he was asked about the yellow police vest in his back seat, showed a Wales police badge and a Leicester firefighter's badge, police said.

Wales Police Chief Dawn Charette confirmed that Officer McGoldrick is an auxiliary officer there. He began working in Wales about six weeks ago and has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of an investigation, the chief said. Leicester Fire Chief Robert F. Wilson said last night that Officer McGoldrick is not a member of his fire department.

Trooper Figueiredo wrote in his report that Officer McGoldrick had bloodshot eyes, smelled of alcohol and marijuana and was carrying his “duty weapon” in a holster at his hip. He also had a smoking pipe and marijuana, which he said belonged to a friend, in his pocket, the trooper wrote.

Officer McGoldrick allegedly had difficulty with some of the field sobriety tests but registered no reading on a portable breath test that detects alcohol.

During the tests, Officer McGoldrick “continued to mention the names of several commissioned and non-commissioned Massachusetts state troopers which he knew and that I should call and speak with concerning the current situation,” the report said.

State police could find no record of his .40-caliber Glock pistol being registered and seized it, along with the marijuana and pipe, according to the report.

They also requested that Officer McGoldrick's driver's license be suspended, saying he posed an immediate threat to other motorists.

In court, Assistant District Attorney Michael J. Luzzo asked that Officer McGoldrick be required to remain drug-free as he awaits the outcome of his case.

Judge Paul McGill said he would leave it up to the Paxton police chief to decide whether Officer McGoldrick's firearms identification card should be revoked.

Officer McGoldrick was represented by lawyer Roger Banks at his arraignment on the charges: driving under the influence of drugs, a marked lanes violation, a lights violation, negligent driving, carrying a firearm while intoxicated, use of a badge without authority and failing to report a firearm transfer.

He was released on personal recognizance and is due back in Western Worcester District Court in East Brookfield on Jan. 17.